Do you remember the first book that you ever read? I still do. The first book I read was “Down These Mean Streets” by Piri Thomas. You should have seen the look of marvel on my face when I spoke with the Urban Jibaro and he told me that the last show Piri performed at was Capicu. My heart raced, the peach fuzz stood up on my arms, and I felt both proud and a little sad. Proud because I have graced the same stage that Piri had graced, sad because I didn’t see it live, and unfortunately, I never will.
So let’s talk about Piri Thomas and “Down These Mean Streets.” I think I was about 14 years old when I first read the book. It was recommended to me by a counselor I was seeing at the time, Freddy Baez. I credit that man with being instrumental in guiding me through a very difficult period. The book now feels like a distant memory, but I feel as if I knew Piri Thomas and witnessed his life firsthand.
If you don’t already know, Piri Thomas is a legend among Latinos, but he wasn’t always one. He was once a young man living a life marked by gangs, violence, crime, and struggle, which ultimately led him to prison. Remarkably, he later turned his life around and became one of the most prominent Latino figures in recent history. If that isn’t an inspiring story, I don’t know what is.
Coming from a Puerto Rican mother and a Cuban father, Piri was born with very dark skin. If you know anything about Latinos, you know we are an eclectic mix of people. For example, Puerto Ricans can have blonde hair and blue eyes, appearing completely Caucasian; or look like Indigenous people with dark straight hair and olive skin; or appear African, or any combination thereof.
During the time when Piri was a young man, racial inequality was widespread and created significant obstacles for many communities. As a dark-skinned Latino youth, he faced considerable challenges growing up. Even more difficult was the fact that he believed he was treated unfairly by his own father because of his darker skin tone and facial features. Experiencing that kind of inequity within your own family must have been especially painful.
To try and explain all the details of this book now would not do justice to Piri and his legacy. The point of this post is to remind or inform you that this book exists, it is powerful, and if you have never read it, you should.
Some people only know Piri as a poet, but he was much more than that. In “Down These Mean Streets,” he tells the compelling story of his life. I remember being a young man going through a rough stretch, and this book came to me at the right time. I can’t fully express the impact it had on me.
It is a must-read for all Latinos, young and old, and absolutely essential for any fan of Piri Thomas.
Rest in peace, my brother.
This post was originally written for Sofrito for your Soul.
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